Theories of criminal behavior and explanations for criminal acts

Understanding why individuals or groups engage in deviant or criminal behavior helps better inform therapeutic interventions and public policy. No one theory of crime can explain all criminal behavior. However, each theory does offer the potential for better understanding individual criminal acts or patterns of criminal behavior that take place within specific cultural or historical contexts. Integrating multiple theories can be helpful, too, showing how biology, psychology, politics, culture, and sociology intersect.
Biological Theories of Criminal Behavior
Some of the earliest theories of criminal behavior evolved out of biological determinism and evolutionary theory, which suggested that some people have a genetic predisposition towards criminality. Biological theories of criminal behavior can be based on different perspectives, including those that focus on neurochemistry, genetic conditions, developmental disorders, and even nutritional deficiencies (The Scottish Centre for Crime & Justice Research, 2016). Although the original biological theories of crime like those of Lombroso have been widely disproven, new research in genetics and neuroscience have shed light on some predispositions towards deviance and criminality (Newsome, 2014). Just as some individuals may have a predisposition towards certain mental and physical illnesses, which can be triggered or exacerbated by environmental conditions, people may be genetically or biologically predisposed towards antisocial or violent behavior or unable to control impulses in ways that precipitates criminality. Understanding the biological predispositions for criminality can help psychologists to develop pharmacological interventions that may reduce the potential for or severity of deviant behaviors.
Psychological Theories of Criminal Behavior
Psychological theories of criminal behavior focus on mental conditions, including both cognitive and emotional states. The foremost psychological perspectives on criminal behavior include social learning theory and rational choice theory, both of which can be integrated into a comprehensive psychological theory of crime (Hirschi, 2014).
Social Learning Theory
Social learning theory shows how individuals model their behavior after mentors, role models, and peers throughout childhood and well into adulthood. A person who is surrounded by others who practice or condone criminal behavior will be more likely to engage in those same behaviors in order to belong to that social group to receive rewards like acceptance and affection. Similarly, a person crafts an identity based on associations with a certain lifestyle or attitude. When a person internalizes an identity that is deviant, it is more likely that person will continue to engage in criminal behavior until their core identity changes.
Rational Choice Theory
Rational choice theory suggests that people make decisions based on cost-benefits analyses. If an act is likely to bring personal gain or reward at little risk, then a person will not care if that act is criminal or not. Similarly, people make a rational choice to commit crimes when there is an easy opportunity to do so. White collar crimes can be explained well using rational choice theory. Rational choice theory underlies many laws and institutions that are designed to curtail deviant behavior, by reducing the opportunity to commit criminal acts or by making the punishments severe enough to act as deterrents.
Sociological Theories
Sociological theories of criminal behavior focus on structural variables including social norms and institutions. The most important sociological theories of crime include strain theory and conflict theory, which can be easily integrated. Both strain theory and conflict theory show how poverty and other systemic economic problems like income disparity lead to the construction of antagonistic group identities. Strain and conflict theories show how individuals experience frustration at social and economic injustice, leading to either property crime or violent crime. Social disorganization and routine activity theories are also sociological perspectives that demonstrate how community variables, including the structure of families, the relationships between residents within a community, lifestyle factors, and social norms all interact to create patterns of criminal behavior (Engelen, Lander & Van Essen, 2016). Sociological theories of crime can be used to inform sensible public policies that reduce income disparity and promote harmonious social relations within a society.
References
Engelen, P., Lander, M.W. & van Essen, M. (2016). What determines crime rates? The Social Science Journal 53(2): 247-262.
Hirschi, T. (2014). On the compatibility of rational choice and social control theories of crime. In Scott, M. (Ed.) The Reasoning Criminal. New York: Routledge.
Miller L. (2017) Psychological Theories of Criminal Behavior. In: Van Hasselt V., Bourke M. (eds) Handbook of Behavioral Criminology. Springer, Cham
Newsome, J. (2014). Biological theories of crime. The Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Blackwell: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118517383.wbeccj225
The Scottish Centre for Crime & Justice Research (2016). Theories and causes of crime. University of Glasgow: http://www.sccjr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/SCCJR-Causes-of-Crime.pdf